bipolar disorder

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

bipolar disorders plural

1. an affective disorder characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression, usually interspersed with relatively long intervals of normal mood.

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bipolar disorder British  

noun

1. a mental health problem characterized by an alternation between extreme euphoria and deep depression

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bipolar disorder Scientific  

1. Any of several mood disorders usually characterized by periods of depression that alternate with mania.

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bipolar disorder Cultural  

1. Also known as manic-depressive illness. This psychiatric disorder is marked by periods of euphoric (manic) highs often followed by periods of depression.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bipolar disorders
  plural

Example Sentences

People with a bipolar disorder diagnosis more commonly experience depressive episodes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

The rapper has since apologised for his antisemitism and said his erratic behaviour is partly due to previous diagnoses of autism and bipolar disorder.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

He attributed his behaviour to a "manic episode" brought on by bipolar disorder.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Laurent McNamara lived with bipolar disorder - characterised by extreme shifts in mood, and impulsive, sometimes reckless, behaviour.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

They weren't partial or biased, just very persuasive in detailing how organic brain damage, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder can conspire to create severe mental impairment.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson